[[quoteright:234:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mortiis_1866.png]][[caption-width-right:234:Mortiis, in his natural habitat.]]

Mortiis is a band from Notodden, Norway fronted by Håvard Ellefsen (former member of the BlackMetal band {{Music/Emperor}}), who is also known as the namesake of the band. The name is a misspelling of the word 'mortis', [[ItIsPronouncedTroPay which is the pronunciation used by the band]]. However, Mortiis started as the solo project of Ellefsen as a means to convey a story. This aspect was lost over time and Mortiis slowly formed into a band. Between 1993 and 1999 the solo project focused on dark {{ambient}} music, until 2001's ''The Smell of Rain'' in which it became more {{Industrial}} sounding. With the release of ''The Grudge'' Mortiis became an official band rather than a solo project, and the music shifted toward IndustrialMetal.

Until 2007, Mortiis was never seen without his mask; a troll-like face with a large nose and pointed ears. The mask changed over time as well; by the release of ''The Grudge'' it began to look like it had been stitched and stapled in place. Finally after 2007's ''Some Kind of Heroin'', Mortiis removed the mask permanently.

* AGodIAmNot: "Monolith", from ''The Smell of Rain'' seems to be about this.* AllTrollsAreDifferent: According to Ellefsen, "I do not look upon myself as a goblin, or troll, or elf, or medieval. [[IAmWhatIAm I am merely Mortiis.]]"* BreakupSong: "The Grudge" is a particularly angry one.* BSODSong: "Everyone Leaves", a song about how everyone you know will eventually leave you or die no matter how hard you hold on. * ConceptAlbum: Pretty much anything from Era I.* CoolMask* EraSpecificPersonality: Ellefsen, and the music itself.* GenreShift* GriefSong: "Everyone Leaves"* KayfabeMusic: The troll gimmick, which has now been dropped for better or for worse.* NewSoundAlbum: Practically every album since ''The Smell of Rain''. The changes in his style are divided into "Eras" by fans.* PointyEars* ReligionRantSong: "Underdog"* WickedWitch: Subject of the song "Smell the Witch"